YEEZUS

 

My favourite Kanye album. I’ll get into that later. Happy 10 year anniversary YEEZUS.

 

YEEZUS isn't an album that can be described with any simple introduction, an album that created its own category in current rap, it's an ultramodern classic. Including an emulsion of disordered electro, simultaneously regurgitating new lines of his own political constructs, YEEZUS is an insight to the workings of insanity, a project that hints at the beginning of YE’s mental undoing. If only we knew where he would be now. Seemingly contained within 10 songs, every song has a carefully designated role in creating history with this project. 

Kanye makes a profound entrance with his intro choice, quickly aligning himself with his emotional motivations for this project. ‘On Sight’ is an audacious intro, instantly sinking listeners into the black hole that's created with this album, Kanye single handedly being able to create an experimental variation of his own coherent production.Yeezus breathes a new life into Kanye, showing us his blunt projections in its entirety. Ye finds it easy to establish his new found persona, scrapping the old Kanye for YEEZUS; a side to Kanye that's aggressive and threatening, somehow even more outspoken than his usual character. “A monster bout to come alive again” is enough warning from Kanye as he aggressively spits his frustration out. It's unfamiliar for Kanye to have such hostility with an opener but Kanye is clearly going for a method that's unorthodox with this project, making sure nothing in this album makes total sense. That's how ‘On Sight’ is an unforgettable intro within his discography. Kanye is purposely disturbing everyone's perceived version of his music, messing with his own role in the industry; stepping into his new found archetype as an antagonist. Produced by Daft Punk this lyrical hostility is contained within a beat that completely juxtaposes the lyrics, an upbeat distorted acid house that sounds like a warped jump cut of a broken walkie-talkie. Kanye spews out enraged commentary over a dance tune, it's intentionally done to confuse listeners. You wanna dance? Well, you're not allowed. You’re at a simulated crossroads.

Continuing with his bleak belligerence, Kanye brings us the anti-establishment hit ‘BLACK SKINHEAD’. A play on words ‘BLACK SKINHEAD’ is a premeditated rant, Kanye’s aggravated and he isn't afraid to intimidate the intended audience. This song is layered with historical context “Skinhead” linking mainly to the racist neo-nazi groups formed in Britain in the 80s-90s. It's quintessential to Kanye's artistic identity to carry on anti-racist themes in his work, that's definitely something he didn’t forget to be consistent with despite his opposing trajectory in other areas of his craft. ‘BLACK SKINHEAD’ is unsettling, purposely produced on a militant-esque beat, sounding like an auditory battlefield, Daft Punk and Kanye are an untouchable collaboration. 

A running theme throughout is the concept of a “God”, naming the album ‘YEEZUS’ also gives insight into what Kanye defines as blasphemous when talking about a higher power. Obviously, he doesn't care about the discourse behind the forbidden rule to never call yourself a God. He actually would rather bring attention to it instead, shining the spotlight on taboo topics. “I Am a God” pays homage to Lennon’s previously outrageous line “more popular than Jesus”, Kanye manages to scrutinise the idea of God whilst calling himself one at the same time,cancelling himself out. This song pays attention to the luxuries of being a “God” allowing itself to perpetuate the hierarchical society that capitalism falls under. It wouldn't be Kanye if his ego didn't push it even further by saying “I just talked to Jesus he said what up Yeezus' ' although it's sacreligious to call himself Yeezus, it's also telling. A man that's so well established in the industry, the most popular name in anyone's mouth, why wouldn't he compare himself to the most high? After all it is all praise to the most…

‘New Slaves’ is an advanced track on everything Kanye stands for as an artist, a necessary nonchalance runs through the track, letting him spout out all his takes without any real peak of aggression creating any heights in the song. New Slaves is instilled with hundreds of racial stereotypes and microaggressions towards Black Americans throughout history. Kanye uses his intellect to consistently manage to remind people of what history has pushed for us to forget as a society. Kanye might be rich, he might be successful, he might be powerful, he's also straight, but he will never be a white man. Kanye forces people to look at themselves and what they are, what do you represent, what do you stand for? Kanye is and has always been very aware of his role as a black man in the industry, never forgetting to realise what he stands for as an entertainer for the masses, a black man's talent will always be exploited, no matter how much control he has over his role as an artist. This can still be misconstrued. My favourite line in this song is “I’d rather be a dick than a swallower”. Mr West reminds you that It takes you far in this life when you are unapologetically yourself. The final moments of this song contains a sample from Gyöngyhajú Lány” by Hungarian rock-band Omega, rather than creating new heights of frustration, Ye does the opposite allowing the song to crash down into the base of his emotions letting the outro of the song take you to a realised death. The ending lines translated speak of the darkness endured when the sun goes down relating to the Sun God in Egyptian scriptures, yet again Kanye ties back to his recurring theme. 

YEEZUS concludes with ‘Bound 2’, a love song dedicated to his baby mama and wife at the time Kim Kardashian. ‘Bound 2’ is a dedication to his love for his wife, total submission to the power of her love. Kanye still finds time to enlarge his ego, even in a song that’s not about him; “All them other niggas lame and you know it now”.

YEEZUS is a kaleidoscopic inspection into the manifestation of frustration. In just ten songs, Kanye managed to create a historical experimental album, “YEEZUS” is profound, standing in its certainty. Kanye constructed a new wave of rap with this album, from its tenacious lyricism to the polarising production. YEEZUS is an unforgettable classic.

Fatima <3